Hitch



Patented May 24, 1932 UNHTED STATES ALVIN J'. VAEMIAN, OF NEAR STILLWATER, IVIINNESO'LA,l .ASSIGrlYILOlEt` OE ONE-HALF' TO MABLE V. APIVIAN, 0F STLLWATER', MINNESOTA w HITGH Application lfiled April 2, 1931. Serial No. 527,109. j

This invention relatesto a hitch or draft device for connecting an implement such as a plow with a draft machine, tractor or team. Devices of this general class are widely used and in most instances are so constructed that when a predetermined strain greater than the normal pulling strain between the draft device and the implement is encountered, an automatic disconnection will occur insuring the implement and hitch lugs or brackets against breakage.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple and improved hitch of the class described which can be adjusted to release at a desired predetermined strain and wherein the releasing element or coupling when in open position will permit automatic coupling of the device.

It is a further object to provide a strong hitch of simple construction which may be maniually released with safety when so desire Another object is to provide a hitch of the class described wherein a limited freedom orV pivotal motion either on a vertical or horlzontal axis, as desired, is provided in the coupling or hitch itself.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention coupled to a hitch lug of a tractor and a hitch link of a plow'or other implement; Y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detailed cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated a draft bar 5 is provided and may be constructed in the form of a relatively heavy casting having adjacent one end thereof an upstanding supporting lug 5a and having at an intermediate portion thereof and disposed in a pla-ne at right angles to said first mentioned lug a second 'supporting lug 6d. A clevis bar. 6 is pivoted by a heavy bolt 7 beneath the intermediate portion of Vdraft bar 5 and said clevis bar is guided in an arcuate slot 5c, provided at one end of the draft bar by means of a pin or bolt 8, to limit the relativeswinging of the two bars.v

At the opposite end of thedraft bar 5 and pivoted to a widened portion thereof I provide a yoke 9 which may be integrally formed with the draft bar if desired and to which-is pivotally secured a swingable coupling arm 10. Coupling arm 10 carries at its outer end a hook element 10a which has a lateral slot or recess 11 formed therein adapted to cooperate with a recess 12 formed in the adjacent end of draft bar 5. A heavy bolt or pin 13 extends through yoke 9, coupling arm 10 and draft bar 5 to pivot the parts for swingable movement. Bolt 13 preferably carries a spacing sleeve or bushing 13a disposed between the ends of the yoke?) to permit free pivotal action on the part of the coupling arm 10. The inner end of coupling arm 10 isprovided witha beveled retaining lug 10b which is adapted to be engaged' and held in operative locked position by means of an angle-shaped latch 14. Latch 14 has an arm which extends transversely'of'the kdraft bar and is yieldingly connected with supporting lug 5d.v Connections may be conveniently made by means of a bolt 15 tapped into said lug and on which said arm of the latch is slidably mounted and a coil spring 16 is interposed between the adjacent face of lug 5a and said Vlatch arm to normally ,hold said latch inwardly.

'The operating arm of latch 14 extends longitudinally of the draftvbar and is provided with a slot 14a through which a tension bolt 17 extends, said boltV being connected at its inner end to the supporting lug 5b. Aspacing collar 18 surrounds tension bolt 17 and is disposed within the slot 14a of the latch and a washer or collar 19 is interposed onthe outward side of the operating arm of the latch and a heavy tensile coil spring 20 abuts said washer and surrounds bolt 17 being interposed between said washer and asecond grar ,l Prie j i l is disposed in closed Y as shown in Fig. 1.

Vtioned by spring The clevis bar 6 may be connected at its outer end (not shown) with anl impdement,

such as a plow or the like in which case the hook 10a of the coupling arm will engage and interlock with a clevis or hitch lug 23 of a tractor or other draft device.

Itwill, of course,- be apparent that my hitch may be .reversed if desired. That is, the clevis bar y6 may be connected with the implement to be drawn, while the coupling bar may connect with a clevis on the implement.

It will be noted by referring vto Fig. 1 that in the open position of the coupling arm as indicated by the dotted lines, the recess 11 of the arm will be positioned to be engaged by the clevis or hitch lug 23 and will enable the device to be readily coupled if desired by swinging the coupling arm from the dotted line position into the full line position shown in the drawing, whereupon the recess 12 at one end of the draft bar 5 nicely cooperates with the recess 11 of the coupling arm hook to provide a pivotal connection between the tractor lug or clevis and the hitch.

Operation It will be noted that the latch member 14 is mounted on its supporting bolt 15 for alimited lateral movement relative to said bolt as well as for movement longitudinally of said bolt. The tensionl of spring V16 is sufficient to vnormally maintain the latch in inwardly projected' position with its extremity 145 abuttingthe retaining lug lObof the coupling The tension 'placed upon the heavy spring 2O determinesof course the amount of strain which is required to release the 'coupling arm automatically.

In the operation of the device strain is jthe tractor or draft device.:

My hitch may be adjusted for releasing at various predetermined strains within wide limits by varying the tension of the heavy spring 20 through the manipulation of the adjustment nut 22. Further adjustment may be effected by regulating the supporting bolt 15 which carries the latch in that way mediate portion of draft arm 5 and the clevis arm 6 in cooperation with the guiding means 5c for engaging the guide bolt 8 provides freedom for a limited swinging movement between the draft device and the imp-lement to permit proper draft alignment between the two. j

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and highly efficient hitch adapted to be quickly coupled or uncoupled to permit automatic'release when the desired `predetermined strain is produced upon a coupling bar. Automatic coupling may be edected by backing the tractor into the open coupling bar. y

It will, of course, be understood that various changes, may be made inthe form, details, j

arrangement and proportions'of the parts without departing from the scope Vof my invention, which,generally stated7 consists in; a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, and in the novel parts and combinations ofparts disclosed and'v defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In an automatic hitch, a body'ha'ving a recessed end, a coupling arm pivoted to said body at a point disposed atone side of said recess, said coupling arm having a hook at the outer end thereof cooperating with the recessed portion of said body, the opposite end of'rsaid coupling arm bein provided with a retaining element, a latci mounted on said body and adapted to be moved longitudinally of said body and also transversely ofv said body, means for yieldingly holding and adjustable said latch in extreme inward longitudinal a,

movement and yieldable means directed transversely of said body for resisting the transverse movement of saidlatch, said latch having an element disposed longitudinally of said body for lapping and engaging with the retaining element ofsaid arm.

2. In an automatic hitch, an j elongated body constituting a draft bar and having ayoke adjacent one end thereof, a coupling arm pivoted in said yoke and having a lateral recess extending into one of thelongitudinal 4 sides thereof adjacent one`end,said recess terminating at a point disposedeccentrically of the pivot for'said arm, said.V body having` a recessedV end cooperating with the recessed portion of said arm to form a couing transverse of said body and projecting outwardly from one of the longitudinal edges thereof, a coil spring mounted on the outer portion of said bolt and interposed between said latch and an abutment element secured to said bolt, said latch having a retaining element disposed longitudinally of said body and adapted to lap and engage with the retaining end of said coupling arm.

3. in an automatic hitch, an elongated body, a clevis arm pivoted to the medial portion of said body and under-lying the same, means for limiting the relative swinging between said clevis arm and said body, said body having an integrally formed element extending inwardly from one of the longitudinal edges thereof and adjacent one of the ends thereof to form with said body a yoke, a coupling arm pivoted to said element at a point adjacent one end thereof, said arm having a laterally extending recess adjacent said end, said recess terminating at a point eccentric of said pivot, a recess in the adjacent end of said body adapted to cooperate with the recessed portion of said arm to form a coupling, said arm extending longitudinally of said body when in operative position, said body having an upstandin supporting lug and a bolt secured to sai supporting lug and extending longitudinally of said body, a latch slidably mounted on said bolt and having a retaining arm extending longitudinally of said body and adapted to lap and engage a retaining element of said coupling arm, a spring surrounding said bolt and interposed between said supporting lu and said latch for yieldingly holding sai latch in operative position and for permitting said latch to be manually disengaged from said coupling arm and resilient means extending transversely of said body and connected therewith for resisting the transverse movement of said latch.

4. In an automatic hitch, an elongated body, a coupling arm pivoted to said body and having a hook at its outer end cooperating with one end of said body for attachment to a draft element, the opposite end of said coupling arm being provided with retaining element, an angular shaped latch having an attachment arm extending transversely of said body and having a retaining arm extending longitudinally of said body,

adjustable means for connecting said attachment arm with saidbody with freedom for movement of said latch longitudinally of said body and also with freedom 'for limited movement of said latch transversely of said body, adjustable means for yieldingly holding said latch in extreme inward longitudinal movement and yieldable means for holding the retaining arm of said latch in lapped relation with the retaining element of said coupling arm..

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

, l ALVIN J APMAN. 

